Shillong, Aug 13: The proscribed Hynñiewtrep National Liberation Council (HNLC) on Monday said that the Government of India will not be able to resolve problems by using gun power but only through dialogues.

A statement issued by HNLC publicity secretary Saiñkupar Nongtraw said, “We are ever ready to come forward for talks with the government but it should not be based on any conditions.”

Thanking all its leaders, members, helpers and relatives of its members who lost their lives on the occasion of HNLC’s 31st anniversary, Nongtraw said that the only way to resolve problems is through dialogues.

“Otherwise, the HNLC will not mind continuing its struggle even if it takes us another 31 years,” he said.

Nogntraw also said that the outfit maintained that Hynñiewtrep land is not part of India, and the Government of India will never be able to resolve the problems by using gun power.

“It was not the wish of the people to be part of India but they were forced,” the HNLC stated.

Nongtraw said that instead of celebrating the Independence Day; the traditional institutions should instead observe August 15 as ‘Wickliffe Syiem Day’. Wickfliffe was born on August 15, 1909.

Nongtraw also said that Meghalaya is yet to achieve “political freedom” despite getting its own state.

“The state is still depending on the Centre for making laws for the state which has only 3 MPs. We have also seen that when the Assembly or District Council wanted to make any law, the final decision has to be taken by the Governor to ensure that such laws are not in conflict with the Central laws,” the statement said.

Nongtraw also alleged the Centre of depriving the rights of the indigenous community as underlined by the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).